AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 8

AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

Closer Ties Urged

Closer co-operation between Australia and New Zealand, with an interchange of government, technical, industrial and agricultural experts was advocated by Mr M. R. Carter, a Christchurch building contractor and city councillor, when he returned home after a six-week visit to Australia.

“I cannot understand why statesmen like Mr Menzies and Mr Nash cannot get together to discuss the question of underpopulation in the north and east of Australia particularly," Mr Carter said. “Australia is spending £250 million on defence, but not tackling the problem of populating the country. The Eastern countries will do it unless Australia does.’* Mr Carter saw as an answer to the problem a discussion between the New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers with the possibility of a panel to investigate increased population in both countries, increased utilisation of land resources and, in New Zea-

land, increased productivity of industries. “To achieve the lastmentioned objective we should give some thought to the support of the World Bank,” he said.

“Ultimately, Australia and New Zealand will sink or swim together,” Mr Carter said. “Our agricultural productivity and our natural resources are linked together, and while Australian industrial progress may be ahead of ours, now there is a great potential here. “If we don’t take advantage of our resources, then the people of Asia may do so before us,” he said.